Jeep Grand Cherokee cleared in fire probe

Published 5:28 pm, Tuesday, January 8, 2013

DETROIT — A U.S. safety agency has cleared the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee after an investigation into possible engine fires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating 107,000 of the SUVs in July after getting complaints about power steering hoses coming loose and leaking fluid onto the engines. But the agency closed the probe last month and said the problem didn't pose a serious safety risk.

During the investigation, the agency found 24 cases in which hoses had blown off their fittings. The problem was traced to a defect inside the hose that was fixed at the factory shortly after the SUVs went into production. The agency says none of the leaks caused crashes or fires, and it's unlikely that leaking fluid would reach any ignition sources. All the problems occurred within seven months of when the SUVs were sold, and all were fixed under warranty by Chrysler, which makes Jeeps.

All of the problems happened in Grand Cherokees made between Nov. 22, 2011 and Dec. 23, 2011.